Food Energy Lab
Heading:
Name, Partner, Date, Period,
Nutrition Science
Introduction
• When we eat food our bodies burn the food
to use the energy that is released when they
are broken down.
• Does each piece of food contain the same
amount of energy?
• WRITE YOUR OWN INTRODUCTION
• INCLUDE THE DEFINITION OF A
CALORIE
Purpose:
• To determine the amount of energy
contained in specific foods.
• To determine if each piece of food contains
the same amount of energy.
• To determine the accuracy of a calorimeter
in measuring kcals.
Materials
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Frosted cheerio
Mini marshmallows
Cheese cracker
Forceps
Electronic balance
Needle and cork
Ceramic square
Graduated cylinder
Ring stand
Clamps
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Tap water
Thermometer
Test tube
Test tube rack
Test tube holder
Lighter
Calorimeter
Lab Quest/Vernier probe
Tin can
Procedure
Open Air Burn
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Calorimeter
gather 3 pieces of each item
weigh each one individually write it down
make your observations-before
put the item on the needle and cork or use
forceps with the cheese cracker
measure out 10ml of water and pour it into your test
tube
take the temperature of the water
hold the test tube over the food
light the food and make observations
take the temperature when the food is done
burning.
Data Table #1
Qualitative Observations
Before During
burning burning
Cracker
Cheerio
Marshmallow
Extra Credit
After
burning
Data Table #2
experimental data
Food
Trial #
Cheerio
1
Cheerio
2
Cheerio
3
Weight
T1
T2
ΔT
#1
#2
Volume
#3
#4
#5
Data
Table
#3
Averages
Averag Average
of
calories calories Kcal/g
e ΔT
Cheerio
Calorimeter
Cheerio
Open air
Cheez-it
Calorimeter
Cheez-it
Open air
Marshmallow
Calorimeter
Marsh
mallow
Open air
weight
water
used
ΔT x V
/gram
(data)
#6
Kcal/g
(label)
#1. calculate the average change
in temperature of each food.
#1
#2
Volume
#3
#4
Average Average
of
calories calories
ΔT
weight
water ΔT x V /gram
used
Cheerio
Marsh
mallow
Cheezit
#5
Kcal/g
(data)
#6
Kcal/g
(label)
#2. calculate the average weight
for each food
#1
#2
Volume
#3
#4
Average Average
of
calories calories
ΔT
weight
water ΔT x V /gram
used
Cheerio
Marsh
mallow
Cheezit
#5
Kcal/g
(data)
#6
Kcal/g
(label)
Record the volume of water used
#1
#2
Volume
#3
#4
Average Average
of
calories calories
ΔT
weight
water ΔT x V /gram
used
Cheerio
Marsh
mallow
Cheezit
#5
Kcal/g
(data)
#6
Kcal/g
(label)
#3. calculate ΔTxV=calories, using
the average temperature change (#1)
#1
#2
Volume
#3
#4
Average Average
of
calories calories
ΔT
weight
water ΔT x V /gram
used
Cheerio
Marsh
mallow
Cheezit
#5
Kcal/g
(data)
#6
Kcal/g
(label)
#4. calculate the amount of calories in 1
gram using the formula
#1
#2
Volume
#3
#4
Average Average
of
calories calories
ΔT
weight
water ΔT x V /gram
used
Cheerio
Marsh
mallow
Cheezit
#2
#3
#calories = x = calories/g
# grams 1 gram
#5
Kcal/g
(data)
#6
Kcal/g
(label)
#5. Convert answers in column #4
from calories to Calories (kcals)
#1
Average
ΔT
#2
Average
weight
Volume
of water
used
#3
calories
ΔT x V
#4
calories/
gram
Cheerio
Marsh
mallow
Cheezit
calories/1,000 = kcals
#5
Kcal/g
(data)
#6
Kcal/g
(label)
#6. compare “actual” or nutritional
label info to “experimental” (#5)
#1
Average
ΔT
#2
Average
weight
Volume
of water
used
Cheerio
Marsh
mallow
Cheezit
Food label
Kcals/serving = x
grams/serving 1g
#3
calories
ΔT x V
#4
calories/
gram
#5
Kcal/g
(data)
#6
Kcal/g
(label)
30 grams
Analysis
in notebook
• Answer the questions on the back of your
lab in either complete sentences or
question and answer format.
Conclusion
in notebook
• Answer the conclusion using information
from your notes, class discussion and lab.
• Discuss calorimeter results as compared to
standards and cork & pin
Links - Calorimeter
• Bill Nye – Nutrition, episode 62
• http://www.gamequarium.org/cgibin/search/linfo.cgi?id=8448
• Calorimeter experiment –
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip8Npp
mm11k
• Bomb Calorimeter
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohyA9a
mFfsc&feature=related